The History of the Worthies of England, Part 2 · County 14 · Section 19 – Section 20
The Battels.
Though none in this County, (the heart of the Eastern Association) yet the siege [Anno 1648.] of Colchester must not be forgotten. Know then that the Remnant of the Royalists routed in Kent, with much difficulty recovered this County, the Parliliaments Forces pursuing them. March much farther they could not, such their weariness and want of Accommodation: bid Battel to their numerous Foes they durst not, which was to run in the Jaws of ruine, wherefore they resolved to shelter themselves for a time in Colchester.
Reader, pardon a Digression▪ Winchester Castle was by the Long-Parliament ordered to be made UNTENABLE; but the over-officious malice of such who executed the Order (wilfully mistaking the word) made it UNTENANTABLE. To apply the Distinction to …; All men beheld it as Tenantable, full of faire Houses, none as Tenable in an hostile way for any long time, against a great Army.
But see what Diligence can do: in few days they fortified it even above imagination. Indeed the lining of the Wall was better than the faceing thereof, whose Stone outside was ruinous, but the in-side was well filled up with Earth, which they valiantly maintained. Nor was it General Fairfax they feared so much, as General Famine, (that grand Conqueror of Cities) having too much of the best Sauce, and too little of the worst Meat. Insomuch, that they were fain to make Mutton of those Creatures which kill She…p, and Beefe of Cattel which never wore Horns, till they were forced to submit to the worst, (but best they could get) of Conditions.
Here those two worthy Knights, Sir Charles Lucas, and Sir George Lisle (the one eminently a whole Troop of Horse, the other a Company of Foot) were cruelly sentenced and shot to Death; whose bodies have since had a civil Resurrection, restored to all possible outward Honour, by publick Funerall Solemnities.
The Farewell.
I wish the sad casualties may never return, which lately have happened in this County. The one 1581. in the Hundred of *Stow. Chro… anno citat.Dengy, the other 1648. in the Hundred of Rochford and Isle of Foulness (rented in part by two of my credible Parishoners, who attested it, having paid dear for the truth thereof,) whe… an Army of Mice, nesting in Ant-hills, as Conies in Burroughs, shaved off the grass at the bare roots, which withering to dung was infectious to Cattle. The March following, numberless flocks of Owls from all parts flew thither, and destroyed them, which otherwise had ruined the Country, if continuing another year. Thus, though great the distance betwixt a Man and a Mouse, the meanest may become formidable to the mightiest creature by their multitudes; and this may render the punishment of the Philistines more clearly to our apprehensions, at the same time pestered with *1 Sam 6. 11.Mice in their barns, and pained with emerods in their bodies.